We're watching Nick JR today and the Glade commercials are in heavy rotation. I actually really like the Glade cinnamon and apple candles (and the price is right), but the commercials for their new fabric spray is just wrong.
An impeccably dressed mom sees her family off in the morning. Hair done. Earrings in. Slacks and blouse. I'm pretty sure she was wearing shoes, too.
That's the first thing wrong with this commercial. Or maybe it's just me. But when I see my family off my hair is matted, I'm barefoot, and I have on pajama pants. I am so not getting all dressed up like I'm going to a PTA meeting before 7 am if I'm not actually going to a PTA meeting or something.
The commercial shows the mom spraying various surfaces with the Glade fabric spray...the couch, the carpet, the drapes, etc., and then she heads out for tennis and a fun meal with the girls, and other leisure activities.
Her family comes home and takes a big whiff and praises her for spending all day cleaning.
First, I want to know how spraying things with fragrance makes the house clean. Cleaning for me is vacuuming rice out of the rug, scrubbing crayon marks off the floor, washing, drying, folding, and putting away laundry, washing, drying, and putting away dishes, polishing furniture, making beds, scrubbing toilets, picking up toys and random crap off the floor and other surfaces, and on and on. All the while someone or someones go behind me and undo about half of what I've done.
If all I did was spray some crappy air freshener around, my family would come home and say, "This place is trashed. What did you do all day?"
Second, this is not the kind of commercial that is going to appeal to stay at home moms. We work. We can't relate to playing tennis and having leisurely margarita lunches because we're battling it out in the trenches with our dirty houses, grubby little children, and all the scheduling crap we have to handle.
Either the commercial family is fabulously rich, in which case, hire a maid, or mom needs a J-O-B.
And third, all this commercial does is reinforce society's idea that SAHMs are lazy and not doing anything all day.
So, good job, Glade. Way to be a douche. Now, I've got to go scrub some ravioli sauce out of the carpet. Or maybe I should just spray it with fabric spray and call it good.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Christmas Parade!
Only 12 more days until Christmas!
We went to the city parade today. We really loved the prancing pony. Have you ever seen a pony prance? It's the cutest thing ever!
There were some pretty interesting floats and displays. We didn't stay the entire time because we wanted to avoid the traffic, but for about an hour we enjoyed the sights and music and the kids got a bit of candy.
Here's Xavier turning Orian to face the camera for a picture, haha!
Isabella and Daddy:
I really liked the HEB float:
Reindeer firetruck!
I also got a haircut:
Aaaandd...I got my nails done!
And yes, my skin does have a nice pale sickly glow! Many apologies for not being tan!
We went to the city parade today. We really loved the prancing pony. Have you ever seen a pony prance? It's the cutest thing ever!
There were some pretty interesting floats and displays. We didn't stay the entire time because we wanted to avoid the traffic, but for about an hour we enjoyed the sights and music and the kids got a bit of candy.
Here's Xavier turning Orian to face the camera for a picture, haha!
Isabella and Daddy:
I really liked the HEB float:
Reindeer firetruck!
I also got a haircut:
Aaaandd...I got my nails done!
And yes, my skin does have a nice pale sickly glow! Many apologies for not being tan!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
My Wish List
I feel disorganized in planning and preparing for the new baby. One minute it seems urgent and the next I feel like it would be silly to begin preparing now.
I will be 35 weeks tomorrow. Two weeks until full term. Of course I have no doubt that Dahlia will give me a full 5+ weeks to prepare. I guess that's part of my hesitance. I don't want to get myself excited when I know I will likely go past 40 weeks.
And then there's Christmas. I feel like it's Christmas first, then baby. I don't want to start getting things set up and make it crowded during Christmas.
I did get the infant car seat out and scrub it down and wash the cover. It looks very nice. I will probably need to clean the stroller as well, but I don't forsee using it a lot. It is just too bulky. I will probably wear Dahlia in the Moby Wrap on most outings. I was serious about getting a double stroller for a while (and a generous friend offered to gift me with one her children had outgrown), but I don't see why I can't use the umbrella stroller for Isabella and the Moby Wrap for Dahlia. I think that will work.
So many things I realize are wants or "nice to haves" but not really must-haves, so I have to keep reminding myself of that.
A big thank you goes out to Angela Marie for sending me just a ton of adorable baby girl clothes. She included everything from sleepers and onesies to fancy dresses and two piece outfits and in all sizes. I am terrible with thank you notes, but I am very appreciative for her thoughtfulness and generosity. Dahlia's dresser is F-U-L-L!
Adrian told me last night I should make a list of baby needs/wants to help me focus and not feel so worried and unprepared, so here's my list:
1. I need to pick up diapers. Seems premature just yet. But after Christmas I'll grab some Pampers Swaddlers in NB. We have wipes, but I think I will switch back to Sensitive instead of Baby Fresh.
2. Alcohol swabs for umbilical cord care.
3. I need to check on my breast pump and make sure it is fully functional and super clean. I don't think I have any bottles, so I might pick up one or two.
4. Breast milk storage bags and Lansinoh.
5. We are not sure if we will do pacis or not. I got a couple to stick in Dahlia's stocking (yes, she has one!). We'll see if she likes them or not.
6. Bassinette sheets. I can never spell bassinette correctly. I have a few, but I think more would be better.
7. Along those lines, probably a few more blankies. Or not. I still have Isabella's blankies, but it's cold here and it wasn't cold in Hawaii, so more might be better.
8. Waterproof pad for the bassinette.
9. Baby book. That's a want.
10. I have a baby bathtub, and just need to scrub and sanitize it.
11. Baby wash cloths. Probably don't need. Can probably wash her with regular wash cloths. I have a few baby towels too. Maybe a couple more would be good. I can't remember, but I think I did actually use those with Isabella.
I am going to be washing so much laundry.
12. I have a mini-swing and a bouncer. I just need to check them out and make sure they're very clean.
13. I have 2 bassinettes. They need to be cleaned and assembled. Actually I think I only need one. I won't need one upstairs, so it would overkill to set up 2 downstairs. They are very portable.
14. Here is the bassinette I want. This is not really a part of the list, haha, but I think it deserves a number nonetheless. I don't know if anyone else has ever seen one of these, but it's freaking sweet. And it costs as much as a nice piece of furniture.
Behold the Fisher Price Zen Collection Glider Bassinet:
Is that sexy or what?
15. Diaper bag. I have the "breastfeeding diaper bag" the formula company gave me at the hospital after I had Isabella (ha!), but I am so not going to use that. I think a backpack type diaper bag would be the most convenient. I have expensive tastes in diaper bags, but I realize a bag is a bag is a bag.
GAP had one that was not too insanely priced and had lots of great features but I don't see it on their site anymore. I guess any backpack could work. I won't have a lot to carry, really...diapers, wipes, diaper sacks, some extra clothing, snacks for Isabella...my wallet...what else, really? We are kind of low-key.
16. This is a want. A full-size swing. There's really no *need* for anything but mommy or daddy's arms, but realistically, with a toddler and two growing boys, there are going to be times I wish I had a swing.
Isabella broke hers so there's not a hand-me-down one. I do have the mini-swing although I have concerns that Isabella will be sitting on Dahlia in that one, haha.
I could find a cheap one, but I have a very specific one in mind. Adrian says I can have it if I can come up with half of the cost of it. It's the Graco Sweet Peace Soother. I guess it's technically not a swing. But it has great reviews and incredible features.
Part of me knows it's superfluous and part of me just wants it.
My other unneccessary want is a co-sleeper or an Amby hammock, but I do realize it could get seriously ridiculous with so much gear in the house.
So, I guess the list of "needs" is pretty short:
- diapers
- wipes
- alcohol swabs
- breastmilk storage bags
- waterproof bassinet pads and possibly a bassinet sheet or two
- some sort of diaper bag or backpack
Items that are wants but that I'll probably get:
- baby book
- some extra blankets
- extra wash cloths and baby towels
Maybe, maybe, maybe - Graco Sweet Peace Infant Soother
I don't know if I'm forgetting something important. I probably am! Although, the bare essentials are really a car seat, a pair of breasts (I guess just one could be ok, too, LOL), and a few warm clothes. And I've got those things. Oh yeah, diapers. I don't know if that counts as a need universally, but it does at my house.
I don't think I feel any more organized.
Ooooh my other want is an exercise ball for labor. I used to have one but it didn't make the move. See. Not organized.
As a little side note, I read a poem in my HynoBirthing book last night that really, really touched me and I wanted to share it, and I figure this is as good a place as any.
Please, Mom and Dad...
My hands are small. I don't mean to spill my milk,
My legs are short -- please slow down so I can keep up.
Don't slap my hands when I touch something bright and pretty. I don't understand.
Please look at me when I talk to you. It lets me know you are really listening.
My feelings are tender -- don't nag me all day. Let me make mistakes without feeling stupid.
Don't expect the bed I make or the picture I draw to be perfect. Just love me for trying.
Remember, I am a child and not a small adult. Sometimes I don't understand what you're saying.
I love you so much. Please love me just for being myself, not for the the things I can do.
-- Author Unknown
I don't know if it's hormones or what, but I can't read that without crying!
I will be 35 weeks tomorrow. Two weeks until full term. Of course I have no doubt that Dahlia will give me a full 5+ weeks to prepare. I guess that's part of my hesitance. I don't want to get myself excited when I know I will likely go past 40 weeks.
And then there's Christmas. I feel like it's Christmas first, then baby. I don't want to start getting things set up and make it crowded during Christmas.
I did get the infant car seat out and scrub it down and wash the cover. It looks very nice. I will probably need to clean the stroller as well, but I don't forsee using it a lot. It is just too bulky. I will probably wear Dahlia in the Moby Wrap on most outings. I was serious about getting a double stroller for a while (and a generous friend offered to gift me with one her children had outgrown), but I don't see why I can't use the umbrella stroller for Isabella and the Moby Wrap for Dahlia. I think that will work.
So many things I realize are wants or "nice to haves" but not really must-haves, so I have to keep reminding myself of that.
A big thank you goes out to Angela Marie for sending me just a ton of adorable baby girl clothes. She included everything from sleepers and onesies to fancy dresses and two piece outfits and in all sizes. I am terrible with thank you notes, but I am very appreciative for her thoughtfulness and generosity. Dahlia's dresser is F-U-L-L!
Adrian told me last night I should make a list of baby needs/wants to help me focus and not feel so worried and unprepared, so here's my list:
1. I need to pick up diapers. Seems premature just yet. But after Christmas I'll grab some Pampers Swaddlers in NB. We have wipes, but I think I will switch back to Sensitive instead of Baby Fresh.
2. Alcohol swabs for umbilical cord care.
3. I need to check on my breast pump and make sure it is fully functional and super clean. I don't think I have any bottles, so I might pick up one or two.
4. Breast milk storage bags and Lansinoh.
5. We are not sure if we will do pacis or not. I got a couple to stick in Dahlia's stocking (yes, she has one!). We'll see if she likes them or not.
6. Bassinette sheets. I can never spell bassinette correctly. I have a few, but I think more would be better.
7. Along those lines, probably a few more blankies. Or not. I still have Isabella's blankies, but it's cold here and it wasn't cold in Hawaii, so more might be better.
8. Waterproof pad for the bassinette.
9. Baby book. That's a want.
10. I have a baby bathtub, and just need to scrub and sanitize it.
11. Baby wash cloths. Probably don't need. Can probably wash her with regular wash cloths. I have a few baby towels too. Maybe a couple more would be good. I can't remember, but I think I did actually use those with Isabella.
I am going to be washing so much laundry.
12. I have a mini-swing and a bouncer. I just need to check them out and make sure they're very clean.
13. I have 2 bassinettes. They need to be cleaned and assembled. Actually I think I only need one. I won't need one upstairs, so it would overkill to set up 2 downstairs. They are very portable.
14. Here is the bassinette I want. This is not really a part of the list, haha, but I think it deserves a number nonetheless. I don't know if anyone else has ever seen one of these, but it's freaking sweet. And it costs as much as a nice piece of furniture.
Behold the Fisher Price Zen Collection Glider Bassinet:
Is that sexy or what?
15. Diaper bag. I have the "breastfeeding diaper bag" the formula company gave me at the hospital after I had Isabella (ha!), but I am so not going to use that. I think a backpack type diaper bag would be the most convenient. I have expensive tastes in diaper bags, but I realize a bag is a bag is a bag.
GAP had one that was not too insanely priced and had lots of great features but I don't see it on their site anymore. I guess any backpack could work. I won't have a lot to carry, really...diapers, wipes, diaper sacks, some extra clothing, snacks for Isabella...my wallet...what else, really? We are kind of low-key.
16. This is a want. A full-size swing. There's really no *need* for anything but mommy or daddy's arms, but realistically, with a toddler and two growing boys, there are going to be times I wish I had a swing.
Isabella broke hers so there's not a hand-me-down one. I do have the mini-swing although I have concerns that Isabella will be sitting on Dahlia in that one, haha.
I could find a cheap one, but I have a very specific one in mind. Adrian says I can have it if I can come up with half of the cost of it. It's the Graco Sweet Peace Soother. I guess it's technically not a swing. But it has great reviews and incredible features.
Part of me knows it's superfluous and part of me just wants it.
My other unneccessary want is a co-sleeper or an Amby hammock, but I do realize it could get seriously ridiculous with so much gear in the house.
So, I guess the list of "needs" is pretty short:
- diapers
- wipes
- alcohol swabs
- breastmilk storage bags
- waterproof bassinet pads and possibly a bassinet sheet or two
- some sort of diaper bag or backpack
Items that are wants but that I'll probably get:
- baby book
- some extra blankets
- extra wash cloths and baby towels
Maybe, maybe, maybe - Graco Sweet Peace Infant Soother
I don't know if I'm forgetting something important. I probably am! Although, the bare essentials are really a car seat, a pair of breasts (I guess just one could be ok, too, LOL), and a few warm clothes. And I've got those things. Oh yeah, diapers. I don't know if that counts as a need universally, but it does at my house.
I don't think I feel any more organized.
Ooooh my other want is an exercise ball for labor. I used to have one but it didn't make the move. See. Not organized.
As a little side note, I read a poem in my HynoBirthing book last night that really, really touched me and I wanted to share it, and I figure this is as good a place as any.
Please, Mom and Dad...
My hands are small. I don't mean to spill my milk,
My legs are short -- please slow down so I can keep up.
Don't slap my hands when I touch something bright and pretty. I don't understand.
Please look at me when I talk to you. It lets me know you are really listening.
My feelings are tender -- don't nag me all day. Let me make mistakes without feeling stupid.
Don't expect the bed I make or the picture I draw to be perfect. Just love me for trying.
Remember, I am a child and not a small adult. Sometimes I don't understand what you're saying.
I love you so much. Please love me just for being myself, not for the the things I can do.
-- Author Unknown
I don't know if it's hormones or what, but I can't read that without crying!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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